wenty minutes to nine.

"How very late it is!" thought the little girl, as she hurried off to
school, "mamma always calls me at seven. I did not think I had slept so
long."

Despite all Emily's haste she was too late; school had commenced when
she entered, and worse than all, she did not know her lessons, and was
kept in an hour after the rest were dismissed. She could not study the
evening before, and had depended upon an hour's study before breakfast,
but her unlucky morning nap left her no time to think about lessons
before school, and her consequent disgrace was the punishment. The
little girl returned home that day very unhappy.

Emily had not forgotten the conversation about the wasted gift, and had
determined to give no opportunity for her mother to complain. She
thought she was very careful that week, but never imagined how much of
the precious gift she wasted each day in idleness.

The day after her unfortunate disgrace in school, she brought down
several articles of dress that needed repairing, and seated herself at
the window to work. Her mother had promised to take her out with her,
and Emily had to finish her mending first. She plied the needle very
steadily for a while, but presently her attention was attracted by the
opposite neighbors.

"Look, mamma," she exclaimed, "there is Mrs. Dodson and Lucy; they are
just going out, and Lucy has on a new hat."

"Well, my dear," returned her mother quietly, "it is not unusual for
people to get new bonnets at this season."

Emily felt a little abashed at this reply, but could not refrain from
casting furtive glances across the way. The afternoon was fine, and the
street filled with well-dressed people. The little girl watched the
passers-by, holding her needle listlessly in her fingers, and presently
cried out,

"Did you see that lady, mamma? How oddly she was dressed."

"No," answered Mrs. Manvers, "I am attending to my work now, but I hope
soon to join the promenaders myself."

Emily stole a glance at her mother to see whether her countenance
implied reproof, but Mrs. Manvers's eyes were fixed upon her work and
the little girl again endeavored to fix her attention upon her sewing.
At length Mrs. Manvers rose and put aside her work-basket. "I am going
to dress, Emily," she said.

"Very well, mother, I will be ready in a minute," replied her daughter,
and she followed her mother up stairs.

Emily tossed over her bureau in vain to find a clean pair of p